At last night’s post-Thatcher Death Street Party public meeting at Easton Community Centre, Bristol Mayor George Ferguson announced an unexpected new platform to his administration – COMPULSORY RIOTING.
The millionaire mayor unveiled the policy after explaining that he’s a big fan of Bristol’s history of radical politics (“as long as it’s not upsetting other people”) – though not such a fan of anything that might actually change how things are now, unless it involves giant solar-powered inflatable vegetables.
In the words of HIS ROYAL REDTROUSERS:
Riot at the right time, and in the right way.
George’s statement last night has left many across the city wondering what would pass as an acceptable riot in our Glorious Mayor’s libertine eyes. The BRISTOLIAN understands that he is not yet able to release a comprehensive ‘riot guide’ on appropriate disorder etiquette.
In the meantime we call upon him to indicate on a ‘right riot’/’wrong riot’ basis which of the following chapters in Bristol’s social history would meet his criteria for a FERGO RIOT KITEMARK?
- BRISTOL BRIDGE, 1793
- QUEEN SQUARE, 1831
- OLD MARKET, 1932
- ST PAUL’S, 1980
- SOUTHMEAD, 1980
- HARTCLIFFE, 1992
- STOKES CROFT, 2011
- NATIONAL RIOTS, 2011
At the meeting IL PUCE regretfully also railed against your favourite super, soaraway scandal sheet when questioned by audience members about his numerous business interests, at one point snapping:
I think you must have read that in The Bristolian – Don’t believe anything you read in that.
We have been unable to confirm whether this slip of the tongue was caused by inappropriately-prescribed medication.